McDonald can’t wait to hop on D’argento in Epsom
LAST weekend’s Rosehill meeting left James McDonald in a state of shock but D’argento can change all that this Saturday in the $ 1 million Group 1 Epsom Handicap ( 1600m) at Randwick.
The champion jockey narrowly lost the Golden Pendant ( Champagne Cuddles) and the Group 1 Golden Rose ( Zousain) last Saturday. He said winning the last race on The Lord Mayor was a “small consolation” because he still couldn’t believe he wasn’t the Golden Rose winner hours earlier.
“I was hitting top speed at the furlong and not many get run down from there, es- pecially those with the calibre of Zousain,” McDonald said.
After yesterday’s Epsom barrier draw he found out Chris Waller’s grey D’argento would come out of gate one and he couldn’t hide his excitement knowing he was riding the $ 4 favourite in the big mile.
“He’s as good as you get, especially at the weight,” Mc- Donald said. “He’s a Group 1 winner with 52.5kg on his back, he’s beaten the handicapper and is trained by Chris which is even better.
“His preparation has been spot on so far ... and he’s in this race up to his ears, and there’s no Winx.”
McDonald rode D’argento two starts back when first- up in the Group 1 Winx Stakes ( 1400m) at Randwick. He ran on bravely from the rear of the field to only go down to Winx and Invictus Prince.
“He was three- wide and faced the breeze on a windy day and you couldn’t do that. Hardly anything made ground from out wide that day but he was one of them,” McDonald said.